Upholstery fastening device

ABSTRACT

A fabric covering is fastened to a base, e.g. a chair, using a flexible, I-shaped beading laid on the base, the fabric being laid over the beading and staples being fired through the fabric and a thin central web part of the beading. Stapling deforms the beading causing part thereof to collapse inwardly upon itself so as to trap and grip the fabric, at the same time hiding the staples.

O United States Patent 1 1 3,925,861

Tillner 5] Dec. 16, 1975 UPHOLSTERY FASTENING DEVICE 3,040.343 6/1962 Neely 5/3531 7 [751 Inventor Alfred Tiller, Balm, Germany 3:5?23532 311322 fiiiiziir ljiiijijiiii;i;iiiijjsai fsz 73 Assignee; ()ke Rainer Von der Heyde & C0 3.757.479 9/1973 Martinez 160/392 X Lotte, Germany [22] Filed: July 3, 1974 Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin [21] PP NO: 485,482 Attorney, Agent, or FirmFrank .1. Jordan [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Apr. 26, 1974 Germany 2420331 A fabric covering is fastened to a base, e.g. a chair, [52] US. Cl; 24/243 K; 5/3532 using a fl ibl Lshaped beading laid on the base, the [51] Int. Cl. A47C 3/00; A44B 21/00 fabric being laid over the beading and Staples being [58] Fleld of Search 24/243 152; 297/218 fired through the fabric and a thin central web part of 297/219; 5/3532 353-7; 112/265 the beading. Stapling deforms the beading causing 441; 160/391 395, 404 part thereof to collapse inwardly upon itself so as to trap and grip the fabric, at the same time hiding the [56] References Cited I staples UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,l64 4l4 7/1939 Long 24/243 K UX 11 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures U.S, Patent Dec.16,1975 Sheetl0f7 3,925,861

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet20f7 3,925,861

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet3of7 3,925,861

61 U S Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 4 of7 3,925,8

U.S. Patent Dec."16,1975 Sheet50f7 3,925,861

US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet6of7 3,925,861

U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet70f7 3,925,861

1 UPI-IOLSTERY FASTENING DEVICE The invention relates to a fastening device for attaching fabric coverings to furniture, panellings and other foundations that are to be fabric covered.

It is known to secure pieces of decorative fabrics to foundations that are to be covered, for example furniture such as chairs, by steel staples which are fired through the fabric into the foundation by means of stapling pistols. Since it is undesirable for the staples to be visible, it is usual to perform a so-called blind stitching or double stitching, the fabric web having previously been cut and sewn together again. This results in a high expenditure of work and material, and all the more so when not one, but two adjoining pieces of fabric are stapled together and to the foundation. Moreover, such stitching cannot be carried out with the measure of accuracy that is desired with regard to fancy decorating fabrics, unless, through an additional cost-increasing operation, the foundation that is to be covered is milled to provide a milled groove which predeterrnines the position of the seam or stitching upon the foundation.

This invention aims at providing a fastening device for securing pieces of fabric to foundations that are to be covered thereby, through the use of which device it is possible to minimise the material and work involved in covering the foundation and to achieve a stable, slip-proof and accurate attachment of the fabric to the foundation.

According to the invention, there is provided a fastening device for use in attaching fabric to a foundation, comprising a flexible, one-piece plastics material extrusion having a cross-sectional configuration in the general shape of a double-T or an I, the extrusion thereby including two spaced-apart ribs joined by a central web and the web being capable of bending, so that when the extrusion is laid on the foundation, covered by fabric and pinned or stapled through the fabric and web to the foundation, rib portions remote from the foundation move towards one another to trap the fabric therebetween.

The invention also provides a method of fastening fabric to a foundation, comprising the steps of laying an extruded flexible plastics fastening device on the foundation, the device having a cross-sectional configuration in the general shape of a double-T or I and thereby including two spaced-apart ribs joined by a central web that is capable of bending; placing the fabric over the device; and pinning or stapling through the fabric and the web into the foundation so as to secure the fabric and device thereto and bend the web, whereby rib portions remote from the foundation are caused to move together to trap the fabric therebetween.

The use of a device embodying the invention enables the pins or staples to be hidden, and can be used to secure one piece of fabric or two pieces thereof. In the latter case, it is possible to obtain good pattern matching because very stable fixing is achieved. Fixing is conveniently done by pressing the fabric from the outside, by means of the jaw of a stapling pistol, between the rib portions which are upstanding from the foundation. When staples are shot in, the central web which is initially spaced from the foundation is pressed thereagainst by the staple backs and is deformed in approximately V-shaped manner. This moves the upstanding rib portions together and causes fabric to be trapped between these portions which conceal the staple backs 2 and exert a tensioning action on the fabric. In this manner, an imitation seam is produced easily and at a low expenditure. Thanks to the use of a fastening device according to the invention, time-consuming cutting and sewing can be avoided, even when working with large pieces of fabric.

Thus it is possible to connect for example large-area webs of fabric, which normally would require an additional fastening so that they do not slip or are not displaced, to their foundation without previous cutting, sewing-together and folding of the fabric. The line of the imitation seam can be predetermined by bending the extrusion suitably. Additional fastenings of the fabric can be applied, for instance, to the side and back parts of a chair so as to avoid the otherwise customary, manually sewn distorted or twisted side-seams. By fastening the fabric by means of the present fastening device to the upper region of the chair back rest, for example, the fabric is accurately fixed and centred so that unintentional distortion of the fabric and irregularities in the pattern are precluded when finally fastening the fabric to an unseen part of the back rest. Final fastening can be done by shooting in steel staples. Before the fabric is placed on the fastening device, the latter can be secured by staples to the foundation along the course of the desired imitation seam. The staples can be driven through one of the two ribs.

Preferably, so as to achieve a pleasing imitation seam and to avoid undue stressing of the fabric, particularly along linear seam regions, the edges of the ribs remote from the foundation are rounded. Expediently, the device is symmetrical about a central longitudinal plane through the web. Then, there is no danger of the Wrong side of the plastics material profile ledge being placed on the foundation to be covered. To increase its stress endurance, for example during the final tensioning and fastening of the fabric, the ribs can be thickerred in bead-like manner in relation to the web. This facilitates, moreover, the production of fabric-covered edge reinforcements, which are frequently desired for adornment. In such a case, staples are shot through the fabric into the foundation, not only through the central web but also along the outside of a bead-like rib for the production of a simple edge reinforcement, and along the outsides of both bead-like ribs for the production of a double edge reinforcement. In this connection, an embodiment in which each rib is kidney-shaped with an outwardly-facing arched surface and an inwardly-facing surface having a re-entrant into which the web merges has proved to be particularly advantageous. This is because the re-entrant provides additional space for accommodating fabric which is squeezed between the ribs, so that even when thick fabrics are being used, the imitation seam does not gape open.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description given hereinafter by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a perspective view of a fastening device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a modification of the fastening device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an end view of the fastening device on an enlarged scale, during the attachment thereof to a foundation that is to be covered;

FIG. 4 shows the seat portion of an armchair element which has been covered by making use bf a fasteiiiiig device embodying the invention;

FIG. shows a detail of FIG. 4 on an enlarged scale;

FIGS. 6 to show various stages involved in securing a single piece of a decorating fabric to a foundation that is to be covered by making use of the fastening device embodying the invention;

FIGS. 11 to 14 show various stages involved in securing two adjoining pieces of decorating fabric to a foundation that is to be covered by making use of the fastening device embodying the invention; and

FIGS. and 16 show two stages involved in the fastening of a piece of fabric to part of a chair.

The fastening device shown in FIG. 1 comprises an elongated, plastics material element which is designated as a whole by l. The element 1 is extruded in one piece and possesses a cross-section having the basic shape of a double-T or I-shaped profile 2. The two opposed portions 3 and 4 of the profile 2 form ribs which are thickened in bead-like manner in relation to the central crosspiece 5. The portions 3 and 4 are kidney-shaped, each having an outwardly-facing arched surface 6. Inwardly-facing surfaces of the portions are re-entrant and the central crosspiece 5 merges into the re-entrant. Edge parts 8 and 9 (FIG. 3) of each T-limb 3, 4 are designed symmetrically in relation to a central longitudinal plane through the central crosspiece 5, so that it is immaterial which way up the element 1 is placed on the foundation 10 that is to be covered.

The plastics element 1' shown in FIG. 2 differs from the element 1 in that the two opposed portions or ribs 3, 4 of the profile 2' possess an unequal length, as viewed in the direction transversely to the plane of the central crosspiece 5'.

The elements 1, 1 are required to be tough, resilient and flexible, and suitable plastics materials having the required properties of strength and deformability or elasticity, include polyethylene or non-rigid polyvinyl chloride, inter alia.

In FIG. 3, the element 1 is shown during its initial attachment to the foundation 10, the latter being, for example, a wooden plank or panel or chipboard. Attachment of the element 1 to the foundation 10 is effected, along the line desired for the imitation seam that is to be produced, with the aid of a stapling pistol 11. The pistol 11 is reproduced in the drawing on a reduced scale in relation to the element 1. Fastening staples 12 are fired into the foundation 10 to be covered through one of the two rib portions 3, 4, as represented in FIG. 3.

The element 1 or 1 can be secured in this manner to the foundation 10 in a straight or any desired curved pattern, as is shown by way of example in FIGS. 4 and 5 by the imitation seam 13 on the side part 14 of an armchair member 15.

Subsequent connection of fabric 16 to the foundation 10 by means of the element 1 is illustrated with the aid of FIGS. 6 to 10. FIG. 6 shows the element 1 secured as just described to the foundation 10 by means of staples which have been shot in through the rib portion 3. Then the fabric 16 is pressed between the pair of portions 3 and 4, from outside i.e. above, onto the central crosspiece 5 by means of the tapered jaw 17 of the stapling pistol 11, and staples 18 are fired into the foundation 10 through the fabric 16 and the crosspiece 5. In the process, the crosspiece 5 which is thin compared with the portions 3 and 4 is pressed onto the foundation 10 by the staples 18, and is deformed into approximately a V-shape. As a consequence, the parts 8 of the portions 3 and 4 which are spaced from the foundation 10, are moved against one another to squeeze a fabric region 19 between them. An imitation seam 20 is developed thereby which conceals the staples 18.

FIGS. 9 and 10, which correspond to FIGS. 6 and 8, show an additional foam material layer 21 which is superimposed on the foundation 10 and into which the element 1 is pressed upon fastening to the foundation 10. The foam layer 21 serves for filling the gap between the foundation l0 and the fabric 16.

A single or double edge reinforcement can be formed in that further staples 18 can be shot into the foundation 10 along the external arched surface 6 of the parts 9 and through the fabric 16 and the foam material layer 21, whereby the fabric is drawn closely around the arched surface 6.

FIGS. 1 1 and 12, which correspond to FIGS. 6 and 8 or 9 and 10 illustrate the fastening of two pieces of fabric 22 and 23 to the foundation 10 by means of the element 1. The staples 18 now pass through both pieces of fabric 22 and 23 where the pieces overlap, through the central crosspiece 5 and into the foundation 10. The imitation seam 20, which conceals the staples, develops through the deformation of the crosspiece 5 and the consequential closing movement of the parts 8. The re-entrants shown at 7 provide space for the reception of the areas of the pieces of the fabric 22 and 23 which become gripped between the parts 8. While end region 23a of the fabric cut 23 is disposed within the hollow space bounded by the parts 8, after moving against one another, and the deformed crosspiece 5, the end region 22a of the fabric 22 extends, as shown in FIG. 12, over the external arched surface 6 of the portions 4. On account of the doubled number of fabric layers, a thickened edge reinforcement can be produced here by firing staples along the surface of the part 9.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate another way of securing two pieces of decorating fabric 22' and 23' to the foundation 10 using the element 1'. After staples 18 are fired through the superimposed pieces of fabric 22' and 23' as well as through the central crosspiece 5, the fabric piece 22 is turned over as indicated by the arrow 24 marked in FIG. 13. The turned-over state of the fabric piece 22 is shown in FIG. 14, from which is evident furthermore that, in this instance, only one layer of the fabric piece 23 rests on the rib portion 4', while one layer of the fabric piece 23' and two layers of the turned-over fabric piece 22 rest on the rib portion 3. Compensation for this difference in the number of superimposed fabric layers is by way of a correspondingly shorter length or height of the portion 3 in comparison with the portion 4. Thus, after securing, the outer facing surfaces of the fabrics 22' and 23' are substantially co-planar.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a further method of attaching a decorating fabric 25 to a foundation. In this example, the foundation is diagrammatically shown as a rearward part 26 of a chair. In this instance, a fabric piece 27 has already been fastened to an upper region of the chair part 26 by means of staples 28. The fabric piece 25 has, by way of example, a design that is different from that of the fabric piece 27 and is fastened to the rearward part 26 over the region in which the fabric piece 27 is stapled. To achieve this end, the element 1 is pushed into the turned-over, folded edge 29 of the fabric piece 25. The edge 29 can, if required, be sewn together with the crosspiece 5. Thereupon, staples are fired in the described manner into the chair part 26 by means of the stapling pistol 11. In forming the imitation seam 30, the staples pass through the fabric 25 resting on the element 1, the crosspiece 5, the tumed-over edge 29 and the edge of the fabric 27. The result is that a positionally-stable imitation seam 30 is formed, in which the fastening staples 28 are concealed. Subsequent fastening of the fabric 25 to a lower, narrow side of the chair part 26 is not illustrated in FIGS. and 16, but can be effected by the stapling into a non-visible part of the chair where there is no need for concealment. The gap between the part 26 and the fabric cut 25 can be filled by a filling material such as a foam layer. Attachment of the fabric 25 by stapling through the element 1, undesirable distortion or slipping of the fabric 25 is reliably avoided during final fastening thereof to the lower narrow side of the chair part 26.

For better illustration only, the fabrics shown in the drawings display a mutual relative displacement in practice, of course, such a displacement would not exist. The fastening device and fabric can, if preferred, be secured by pinning rather than stapling.

' I claim:

1. A method of fastening fabric to a foundation, comprising the steps of (i) laying an extruded, flexible plastics fastening device on said foundation, said fastening device having a cross-sectional configuration in the general shape of an I and thereby including two spacedapart ribs joined by a central web that is capable of bending; (-ii) placing said fabric over said device; and (iii) driving securing means through said fabric and web into said foundation to bend said web into a generally V-shaped configuration, whereby rib portions remote from said foundation are brought together to trap said fabric therebetween.

2. A method according to claim 1, including the further step of securing said device to said foundation before placing said fabric over said device, said device secured by driving securing means through one of said ribs thereof.

3. A fabric-covered article made by the method according to claim 1.

4. A fastening device for use in attaching fabric to a foundation comprising: a flexible, one piece plastics material extrusion, said extrusion having a cross-sectional configuration in the general shape of an I, said extrusion thereby having two spaced-apart ribs and a central web joining said ribs, each of said ribs being kidney-shaped and having an arched outwardly-facing surface and an inwardly-facing surface including a reentrant, said web merging into said rib in the region of said re-entrant, and said web being capable of bending; whereby, upon laying said extrusion on said foundation, covering by said fabric and driving securing means through said fabric and web into said foundation, said web is bent and rib portions remote from said foundation are brought together to trap said fabric therebetween.

5. A fastening device for use in attaching fabric to the surface of a foundation comprising: a flexible, onepiece extrusion made of plastic material, said extrusion having a cross-sectional configuration in the general shape of an I, said extrusion thereby having two spaced apart ribs and a central web joining said ribs, said web being spaced from said foundation surface when said two spaced-apart ribs are in contact with said foundation surface, said web being constructed and arranged such that securing means may be driven through said web into said foundation surface to thereby bend said web into a V-shaped configuration, whereby, upon laying said extrusion on said foundation surface, covering said extrusion with said fabric, and driving said securing means through said fabric and through said web into said foundation surface as aforesaid, said web is bent into said V-shaped configuration and the portions of said ribs remote from said foundation surface are brought together to trap said fabric between said ribs and within said V.

6. A fastening device according to claim 5, wherein said rib portions have rounded edges remote from said foundation surface.

7. A fastening device according to claim 5, wherein said extrusion is symmetrical about a longitudinal central plane through said web.

8. A fastening device according to claim 5, wherein said ribs are thicker than said web and constitute longitudinally-extending beading along opposite margins of said web.

9. A fastening device according to claim 5, wherein the dimensions of said ribs, measured normal to the plane of said web, are unequal.

10. A fastening device according to claim 5 wherein said web extends in a generally flat configuration between said two spaced-apart ribs when in a normal and unbent state.

11. In a fabric-covered article comprising means on said article defining a foundation, a flexible, one-piece extrusion made of plastic material, said extrusion in its initial unbent state having a cross-sectional configuration in the general shape of an I, said extrusion in said initial unbent state thereby having two spaced-apart ribs and a central web joining said ribs, said web in its initial unbent state being spaced from said foundation when said two spaced-apart ribs are in contact with said foundation, securing means securing said extrusion to said foundation, said web being constructed and arranged such that upon driving said securing means through said web into said foundation, said web is bent into a V-shaped configuration, whereby, upon laying said unbent extrusion on said foundation, covering said extrusion with said fabric, and driving said securing means through said fabric and through said web into said foundation as aforesaid, said web is bent into said V-shaped configuration and the portions of said ribs remote from said foundation surface are brought together, said rib portions thereby trapping said fabric between said ribs and within said V. 

1. A method of fastening fabric to a foundation, comprising the steps of (i) laying an extruded, flexible plastics fastening device on said foundation, said fastening device having a cross-sectional configuration in the general shape of an I and thereby including two spaced-apart ribs joined by a central web that is capable of bending; (ii) placing said fabric over said device; and (iii) driving securing means through said fabric and web into said foundation to bend said web into a generally V-shaped configuration, whereby rib portions remote from said foundation are brought together to trap said fabric therebetween.
 2. A method according to claim 1, including the further step of securing said device to said foundation before placing said fabric over said device, said device secured by driving securing means through one of said ribs thereof.
 3. A fabric-covered article made by the method according to claim
 1. 4. A fastening device for use in attaching fabric to a foundation comprising: a flexible, one piece plastics material extrusion, said extrusion having a cross-sectional configuration in the general shape of an I, said extrusion thereby having two spaced-apart ribs and a central web joining said ribs, each of said ribs being kidney-shaped and having an arched outwardly-facing surface and an inwardly-facing surface including a re-entrant, said web merging into said rib in the region of said re-entrant, and said web being capable of bending; whereby, upon laying said extrusion on said foundation, covering by said fabric and driving securing means through said fabric and web into said foundation, said web is bent and rib portions remote from said foundation are brought together to trap said fabric therebetween.
 5. A fastening device for use in attaching fabric to the surface of a foundation comprising: a flexible, one-piece extrusion made of plastic material, said extrusion having a cross-sectional configuration in the general shape of an I, said extrusion thereby having two spaced-apart ribs and a central web joining said ribs, said web being spaced from said foundation surface when said two spaced-apart ribs are in contact with said foundation surface, said web being constructed and arranged such that securing means may be driven through said web into said foundation surface to thereby bend said web into a V-shaped configuration, whereby, upon laying said extrusion on said foundation surface, covering said extrusion with said fabric, and driving said securing means through said fabric and through said web into said foundation surface as aforesaid, said web is bent into said V-shaped configuration and the portions of said ribs remote from said foundation surface are brought together to trap said fabric between said ribs and within said V.
 6. A fastening device according to claim 5, wherein said rib portions have rounded edges remote from said foundation surface.
 7. A fastening device according to claim 5, wherein said extrusion is symmetrical about a longitudinal central plane through said web.
 8. A fastening device according to claim 5, wherein said ribs are thicker than said web and constitute longitudinally-extending beading along opposite margins of said web.
 9. A fastening device according to claim 5, wherein the dimensions of said ribs, measured normal to the plane of said web, are unequal.
 10. A fastening device according to claim 5 wherein said web extends in a generally flat configuration between said two spaced-apart ribs when in a normal and unbent state.
 11. In a fabRic-covered article comprising means on said article defining a foundation, a flexible, one-piece extrusion made of plastic material, said extrusion in its initial unbent state having a cross-sectional configuration in the general shape of an I, said extrusion in said initial unbent state thereby having two spaced-apart ribs and a central web joining said ribs, said web in its initial unbent state being spaced from said foundation when said two spaced-apart ribs are in contact with said foundation, securing means securing said extrusion to said foundation, said web being constructed and arranged such that upon driving said securing means through said web into said foundation, said web is bent into a V-shaped configuration, whereby, upon laying said unbent extrusion on said foundation, covering said extrusion with said fabric, and driving said securing means through said fabric and through said web into said foundation as aforesaid, said web is bent into said V-shaped configuration and the portions of said ribs remote from said foundation surface are brought together, said rib portions thereby trapping said fabric between said ribs and within said V. 